Moran calls for Leitrim players to stick with it for 2024 campaign after Tailteann Cup exit

Leitrim players need to stick with it and build on what has been a tough campaign according to Andy Moran after the Green & Gold saw the inter-county year come to an end in Parnell Park last Sunday afternoon.

Wexford’s 1-16 to 1-12 victory ended Leitrim’s interest in the Tailteann Cup but even after a campaign that never got off the group with consecutive nine point defeats to Antrim and Fermanagh, the Leitrim manager believes that some good can come out of a difficult campaign.

“We just want everyone available for us, we just want everyone available,” Moran told the media after the game, adding “You don’t take anything for granted - 2024 is a long way away but we were looking at building coming into the Tailteann Cup and we’re still looking at building - we’re hungry, the group is hungry to do well.”

Wexford wear down Green & Gold but Leitrim rue missed penalty as Tailteann Cup campaign ends

LEITRIM 1-12 WEXFORD 1-16

In fact, the former Mayo footballer of the year believes the struggles of 2023 will stand to Leitrim in the future: “Sometimes, just sometimes, you need a year like this year to get new fellows in and then they become the outstanding players in the squad. You see Mike McKiernan there today, probably didn’t have the U20 campaign he wanted through the Philly McGuinness and the Connacht Championship, very unlucky with injury and illness. 

“All of a sudden, comes on today and didn’t look one bit out of place so huge positives. Paul Moran, Radek, all the boys, Jack has been very good for us since he came in, Barry has been outstanding. So there are players there.

“Hopefully we can try to influence the likes of David Bruen and these guys to come back, get Ryan and Casey back and all of a sudden we have a really good squad. That is where we’re at and we just want to build it.”

If there is one message the Leitrim manager wants to drive home is for the players to stick together and build on what they have endured, highlighting the absolute necessity of player retention: “It is the only thing, it is literally the only thing. If you look at our team that we played in London last year and you go Donal Casey, you go Ryan, you go Shane Moran in the middle of the field, you go David Bruen, right through the heart of the team - vital, vital players are missing and that is the key thing, we have to retain our players. The thing I would be awfully proud of here is that we retained them after New York.”

Unfortunately, the game also featured a recurring theme of missed opportunities with Keith Beirne missing a penalty, Tom Prior, Donal Wrynn and Paul Keaney all going close and that is where Andy felt that the absence of marquee forwards like Evan Sweeney and Ryan O’Rourke was particularly felt.

UPDATED: Leitrim fans enjoy the sunshine in Parnell Park as Tailteann Cup journey ends - GALLERY

Leitrim and Wexford fans basked in the sweltering sunshine of Parnell Park as the Model County claimed their place in the Tailteann Cup knockout stages at the expense of the Green & Gold, winning 1-16 to 1-12, on Sunday. Observer photographer Willie Donnellan was a busy man with his camera, snapping some great shots of fans in the sun .... see who you can spot!

“I don’t want to blame anyone for missing chances, I missed plenty of them in my own time but it is just something where you think an Evan Sweeney or Ryan O’Rourke could make a huge difference. We missed chances, probably took the wrong options or shots at times, missed a penalty but yeah, it is just disappointing the way it has finished.

“But lads, I’m unbelievably proud of the boys, the way they played, the way they fought - anybody who was in Parnell Park today saw the way they played for the Leitrim jersey, you can’t ask for much more.

“Young Mike McKiernan gets his debut which was really strong, really good for him. Didn’t go for Diarmuid (Kelleher) there when he came in but Diarmuid has a huge future. And then you get the other guys back, then we can build a panel. Now that we’ve had injuries in 2023, other players have got the chance and hopefully they will push on in 2024.”

Reluctant to highlight individual misses, Andy nevertheless agreed that Keith Beirne’s penalty miss was a big momentum shift but stressed the enormous effort the Mohill sharpshooter had made to even make it onto the field on Sunday: “You put that goal in, you have two goals scored in five minutes, a huge momentum shift but no fault to Keith.

“What Keith has done for Leitrim today has to be put on record, he is playing at 60% fit, playing for the team and doing really, really well, doing absolutely everything the past three weeks to get everything right, between medical interventions and I’ve been unbelievably proud of him today.

“So that’s why I’d hate to say it was the penalty today but there is momentum swings in it so today it was probably the penalty, but Keith has won more games for us than he has lost.”

A few decisions from referee Paul Faloon also saw momentum shifts with Aidan Flynn denied what looked like a stone-wall free while Leitrim had strong appeals just after halftime when Donal Wrynn was clearly held back in the Wexford goal area as a long ball was sent in.

“That was a big decision at a crucial time for us. I said it to Paul coming off the pitch, not in an aggressive way or anything but I said I wouldn’t be happy with all that had happened there but once the game is over, not much you can do about it. Another penalty shout, Donal Wrynn - Just at the start of the second half, we thought that as well but look, that’s it.”

Sense isn't so common after all

THE LAST POINT

Neither did the Leitrim manager seek any solace in hard luck stories or tales of ‘what might have been’ although in hindsight, he does feel that the loss to Sligo in the last game of the League was perhaps more damaging that first realised.

“Ah no, I don’t believe in that - we have five on the bounce without winning. The Sligo game probably took more out of us than we let it take out of us at the time, we were a point up going into injury time, heading for Division 3 and all of a sudden we haven’t won a game since. 

“We had seven goal chances in New York, didn’t take them and now we are in this situation - it is hugely disappointing, the positives are the new guys we have in, the positives are that we have so many guys who have stayed around, stayed with the group and with other fellows to come back in, we will build. But, listen, it is a results business and you have to win football matches and we haven’t won one in five.”